election 3-Way Race for Pro-Government Candidate to Begin
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
As the pro-government liberal camps finished their nomination races, attention is now on who will become the standard-bearer representing the liberal forces to compete with popular contender Lee Myung-bak of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP).
Political pundits say that it is inevitable for Chung Dong-young of the United New Democratic Party (UNDP), independent Moon Kook-hyun and Rep. Rhee In-je of the minor opposition Democratic Party to join forces to vie with Lee, who is enjoying support of more than 50 percent with the public.
Chung has been picked as the presidential candidate of the UNDP, the successor of the now-defunct Uri Party, while Rhee is likely to be selected as the DP's presidential nominee during today's party convention.
Moon, the former chief executive of Yuhan Kimberly, has been referred to as a dark horse in the race. He announced his participation in the presidential race during a meeting with his supporters on Sunday in Seoul. Moon plans to inaugurate his party, the Create Korea Party, by the end of the month.
All the three politicians share the need for joining hands but differ over when and how to field a single candidate.
Chung has expressed high hopes that the process of fielding a single candidate will begin at an early date.
Moon said a contender with the highest public support should run for the election. He is confident that he will receive support of more than 20 percent and take the lead in the three-way alliance.
According to a recent survey conducted by the DongA Ilbo newspaper, Moon won support of 5.5 percent, following Chung Dong-young with 10.5 percent and Sohn Hak-kyu (also UNDP) with 6.3 percent.
Rhee has support of less than two percent.
Rhee said a solid regional support base should be the key to choosing the liberal candidate. The DP, the successor of the Millennium Democratic Party founded by former President Kim Dae-jung, represents voters from the southwest region of Jeolla Province.
It remains to be seen whether their possible alliance can upset frontrunner Lee Myung-bak as the combined rating of the three liberal contenders falls short of Lee's.
The three contenders, however, are dreaming of a dramatic come-from-behind victory seen in previous elections.
In 2002, then ruling party candidate Roh Moo-hyun was elected boosted by a last-ditch alliance with Chung Mong-joon, an heir to the Hyundai Group and independent who brought votes from the country's central region to beat Lee Hoi-chang of the GNP.
Opposition candidate Kim Dae-jung turned the tide in 1997 by building an alliance with Kim Jong-pil.